RU2599738C2 - Lightweight collapsible stroller - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal usage items.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to versions of a baby stroller. Stroller according to first version includes a right frame and a left frame. Each frame has a front support rotatably connected to a rear support at a frame joint. Front support of each frame is a telescopic tube assembly comprising an external tube, assembly of internal tube and slot. Stroller further includes a linkage comprising at least two rigid members connected between right frame and left frame, and a frame drive mechanism. Rigid members are connected with front supports on right and left sliding joint. Stroller according to a second version comprises right and left frame, parallelogram linkage and drive mechanism. Linkage comprises folding upper horizontal member, folding lower horizontal member and latch, which, when engaged, supports members in unfolded position, and when disengaged, enables movement of members into folded position. Stroller according to a third version comprises a frame and a drive mechanism. Drive mechanism comprises rope drive, coil, rope and displacing member.

EFFECT: possibility of folding baby stroller into a compact configuration and reduction of total weight of stroller.

22 cl, 20 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in a general sense, to strollers, and more particularly to lightweight strollers adapted for use during active movement, such as jogging.

Description of the Related Art

Strollers, also called baby strollers, wheelchairs or strollers for newborns, have been used to hold and transport children and infants for many years. Early strollers had parts that were fixedly attached to each other so that they could not fold for compactness. Strollers were designed to have some parts that are movable relative to each other to allow the movement of some parts of the stroller to achieve a more compact design when not in use. However, these strollers do not provide the ability to move or fold into a compact configuration, as required, and are bulky and sometimes difficult to move between their compressed (closed) positions and their working (open) positions, especially when caring for a baby or child. Recently, strollers that automatically switch between their compressed and working positions, such as a stroller that does this at the touch of a button, through motorized movement, have recently been created.

In addition to making strollers that are easy to fold into a compact and transportable configuration, efforts have been made to reduce the total weight of the strollers in order to effectively reduce the effort required to push the stroller. Lightweight strollers are particularly desirable for use during activities requiring physical effort, such as pushing a stroller while jogging. In addition, lightweight strollers are obviously easier to transport (for example, loading into cars, transporting stairs), especially for weaker users. Efforts to reduce the total weight of the stroller include replacing metal structural materials with lightweight structural materials such as hard plastics. In addition, new stroller designs have been proposed that use fewer structural elements, reduce the length and width of frame materials, or that replace structural frame materials with tubular hollow frame materials. However, lightweight strollers, in a general sense, lack the advanced functionality, structural stability and stylish appearance that users expect from larger, heavier models.

Therefore, there is a need for a lightweight sports stroller made essentially of lightweight materials such as hard plastics. A stroller should effectively achieve the functional benefits of heavier strollers (e.g. automatic folding, full suspension, expandable on-board storage, electrical safety features such as daytime running lights, safety sensors, etc.). The stroller should also exhibit good structural stability and should not bend or turn when pushed by the user. The stability of the device should inspire confidence in users. A lightweight stroller showing at least these features is described here.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lightweight stroller that can quickly and easily transition between a closed position and an open position. The stroller includes a right frame and a left frame. Each frame has a front support, rotatably connected to the rear support at the frame connection. The front support of each frame is a telescopic tube assembly, which includes: an external pipe extending from the end of the front support to the connection of the support frame; an inner pipe assembly partially inserted into the outer pipe and protruding from the outer pipe; and, a groove extending in the longitudinal direction along at least a portion of the outer pipe. The stroller further includes a linking device comprising at least two substantially rigid elements connected between the right frame and the left frame, the rigid elements being connected to the front supports on the right sliding joint and the left sliding joint. Connections are placed in the groove of the outer pipe. A drive mechanism coupled to the right or left frame is also provided. The front support and the rear support of the right frame and the left frame are movable from an open position to a closed position by a drive mechanism. In addition, the transition of the stroller from the open position to the closed position causes the sliding joints to slide down along the grooves of the outer pipe.

In certain configurations, the inner tube assembly of the stroller includes: an inner tube that is partially inserted into the outer tube and protrudes from the outer tube at the frame joint; a pipe reinforcing element inserted in the outer pipe and placed below the sliding joint when the front support is in the open position, wherein the pipe reinforcing element has a groove that corresponds to a groove of the external pipe; and, an extension element extending between the end of the inner pipe, which is inserted into the outer pipe, and the sliding joint. If required, the extension element is designed to push the sliding joint in the longitudinal direction through the groove of the pipe reinforcing element and the groove of the outer pipe when the stroller moves from the open position to the closed position and the extension element is placed in the groove of the pipe reinforcing element. The pipe reinforcing element may further include an integral side wall spanning a hollow portion extending in the longitudinal direction through the pipe reinforcing element.

In certain additional configurations of the stroller, the drive mechanism of the frame includes a cable drive, a coil rotated by a cable drive, and a cable located in the coil, the cable being connected to the inner tube. The cable drive can be in direct rotational connection with the coil. Preferably, the cable is made of a synthetic polymer, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The stroller can also include a biasing element connected in series with the cable to eliminate slack from the cable when the drive mechanism is engaged. The drive mechanism may be driven by a battery, electric generator, spring, compressed air, or any combination thereof.

In certain configurations, the stroller binder is a scissor binder made in such a way that the rigid elements are connected between the front support of one frame and the rear support of another frame, and in which the rigid elements of the scissor-connected binder are connected to rotatable central joint in such a way that when the stroller moves from the open position to the closed position, the rigid elements rotate in pyr central connection, bringing the ends of rigid members closer to each other. If required, the stroller also includes a power button to engage the drive mechanism. The actuation button may be an emergency switch. The stroller may further include a screen for providing information to the user, the information including air temperature, battery charge, time, speed or distance traveled.

In certain configurations, the stroller further includes a parallelogram linking device connected between the right frame and the left frame, the parallelogram linking device comprising: a folding upper horizontal element; a folding lower horizontal element approximately parallel to the upper horizontal element; and a latch, which, when coupled, supports the elements in the unfolded position, and when unlocked, provides the ability to fold the elements. In addition, the stroller may further include a parallelogram drive mechanism coupled to the parallelogram linking device to transition horizontal elements of the parallelogram linking device from the unfolded position to the folded position.

In certain configurations, the storage unit may be attached to a stroller. If required, the storage unit includes: a storage bag; at least one cable fixed to the right frame, and at least one cable fixed to the left frame; and flexible connection for connecting cables to a bag. The storage unit is designed so that the bag remains in the expanded position when the frame moves from the open position to the closed position.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stroller that includes: a right frame and a left frame, each frame comprising a front support rotatably coupled to a rear support at a frame connection; a parallelogram coupling device connected between the right frame and the left frame, comprising a collapsible upper horizontal element, a collapsible lower horizontal element approximately parallel to the upper horizontal element, and a latch that, when engaged, supports the elements in the unfolded position, and when disengaged, provides the ability to move items to a folded position; and a drive mechanism connected to the frame or parallelogram linking device. The invented stroller ensures that the front support and the rear support of the right frame and the left frame are movable from the open position to the closed position, the horizontal elements of the parallelogram connecting device move from the unfolded position to the folded position simultaneously with the transition of the frame from the open position to the closed position, and the movement of the frames or the transition of the parallelogram coupling device is carried out by means of a drive mechanism.

In certain configurations, the drive mechanism includes a drive, a gear coupled to and driven by the drive, and a blocking member coupled to the gear. If required, the blocking element engages with the upper or lower horizontal element of the parallelogram linking device to transition the parallelogram linking device from the unfolded position to the folded position. The drive mechanism includes a manual clutch made in such a way as to selectively engage and disengage the drive from the gear. Moreover, the drive can be configured such that when the drive is engaged with the gear, the drive applies light preload pressure to align the drive and the gear before applying the full drive force to the gear.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stroller that includes a frame movable from an open position to a closed position and a drive mechanism coupled to a portion of the frame. The drive mechanism includes: cable drive; a coil rotated by and in direct rotational connection with a cable drive; cable placed in the coil; and a biasing element connected in series with the cable to eliminate slack from the cable when the drive mechanism is engaged.

These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as control methods and functions of related structural elements and combinations of parts and cost-saving measures during manufacturing, will become more apparent when considering the following description and the attached claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form part of the present description inventions, with the same reference numbers denoting the corresponding parts in various drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the scope of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the claims, the singular form includes the objects in the plural, unless the context clearly stipulates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a forward-looking perspective view of a collapsible stroller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention shown in its open position;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the stroller of FIG. 1 shown in its open position;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the stroller of FIG. 1 shown in its open position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the stroller of FIG. 1 shown in its open position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the stroller of FIG. 1 shown in its fully closed position;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the stroller of FIG. 1 shown in its fully closed position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the stroller of FIG. 1 shown in its fully closed position;

FIG. 8 is a forward-looking perspective view of the stroller of FIG. 1 having a seat and a storage bag attached thereto;

FIG. 9 is a backward-looking perspective view of the stroller of FIG. 1 having a seat and a storage bag attached thereto;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the inner tube assembly of the front support of the stroller of FIG. one;

FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional view of the tilted element of the stroller of FIG. 1 with an inner pipe inserted into the outer pipe;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view of the stroller of FIG. 1, paying attention to the drive mechanism for the frame;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section through the upper portion of the inner pipe of the inclined member of the stroller of FIG. one;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged rear view of the stroller of FIG. 1, drawing attention to the parallelogram linking device and actuating the mechanism for the parallelogram linking device;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view of the drive mechanism for the collapsible binder of the stroller of FIG. 1 with horizontal elements in the unfolded position;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the stroller of FIG. 1, paying attention to the handles, the actuation button and the LCD screen;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the LED screen of the stroller of FIG. 1, located on the handle rod assembly;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart depicting the sequence of driving the stroller of FIG. one; and

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the folding sequence of the stroller of FIG. one.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of further description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upper part”, “lower part”, “lateral”, “longitudinal” and their derivatives will relate to the invention as defined in the drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention may contemplate alternatives and sequences of steps, unless specifically indicated otherwise. It should also be understood that the specific devices and processes shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following description are merely illustrative embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting.

With reference to FIG. 1-9, the stroller 10 includes a right frame 12, a left frame 14 and a linking device (for example, a parallelogram linking device 16 and / or linking device 18 operating according to the scissors principle) connected between them. The frames 12, 14 and the bonding device 16, 18 can be made of any suitable material strong enough to support the stroller 10 and the passenger, including hard plastics and metal. In certain embodiments, frames 12, 14 are formed from hollow tubular elements to reduce the mass of the stroller 10.

The right frame 12 and the left frame 14 are essentially identical in appearance and design. The right frame 12 is described hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the left frame 14 is mirrored with respect to the right frame 12. The right frame 12 includes a front support 20 rotatably coupled to a rear support 22 at the frame joint 24. The front support 20 and the rear support 22 are movable from an open position to a closed position. In the open position, the front support 20 is approximately at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the rear support 22. In the closed position, the front support 20 and the rear support 22 are approximately parallel. However, these angles are not intended to be limiting and may vary within the scope of the present invention. In one illustrative embodiment, the stroller in the open position is shown in FIG. 1-4. The stroller in the closed position is shown in FIG. 5-7.

The coupling device connecting the right frame 12 to the left frame 14 may be any suitable structural element, including, but not limited to, the parallelogram connecting device 16 and / or the scissors connecting device 18. In one non-limiting embodiment, the parallelogram connecting the device 16 is formed of a folding upper horizontal element 26 and a folding lower horizontal element 28, and the elements 26, 28 are connected between the rear supports 22 of the right frame 12 and l the howling frame 14. Each of the horizontal elements 26, 28 includes a first section 30 and a second section 32 connected by a folding connection 34. The parallelogram connecting device 16 further includes a latch 36 engaged with the folding connection 34, which, when locked, supports horizontal elements 26, 28 in the unfolded position, and which, when unlocked, allows the folding joint 34 to transition to the folded position. The parallelogram connecting device 16 is configured to transition from the unfolded position to the folded position simultaneously with the transition of the frames 12, 14 from the open position to the closed position. It has been found that a parallelogram linking device 16 comprising two horizontal elements 26, 28 provides advantages over other known configurations for connecting the frame structures of the stroller. Specifically, since the elements 26, 28 are relatively small, and since there is a large space between the horizontal elements 26, 28 and the ground, the user will not hit or beat the binder 16 when pushing the stroller 10. In addition, since the parallelogram binder the device 16 occupies only a small portion of the rear supports 22, there is sufficient space for hanging storage devices, such as bags or baskets, on the rear supports 22, without interfering with the folding movement of the binder roystva 16. Finally, the binder device 16 comprising two parallel horizontal elements 26, 28, in a general sense, it is intended to be visually attractive and less cumbersome than the alternative design of the device of the binder, which comprise more parts and less straight lines.

In certain embodiments, the stroller 10 further includes a scissor coupler 18. The scissor coupler 18 includes two substantially rigid members 38 connected between the rear leg 22 and the front leg 20 opposite frames. The rigid elements 38 are connected to the front support 20 on a sliding joint 40 capable of sliding up and down along the lower portion of the front support 20. The sliding joints 40 are designed to slide down along the front supports 20 at the same time as the frames 12, 14 move from the open position closed position. In certain embodiments, the rigid members 38 are connected to each other on a rotating central joint 42. The members 38 rotate together around the central joint 42 when the frames 12, 14 move from an open position to a closed position.

The stroller 10 may further include additional elements extending from the frames to facilitate pushing the stroller. For example, in certain embodiments, the arms 44 extend from the top of the front supports 20 to push the stroller.

Additionally, the stroller 10 includes front 46 and rear wheels 48 attached to the lower end of the front legs 20 and rear legs 22, respectively. In one embodiment, the wheels 46, 48 are connected to the frames 12, 14 by means of a suspension system for absorbing collisions or depressions in the ground so as to make pushing the baby stroller 10 easier and to improve driving comfort for a small passenger. The suspension system may be a spring based suspension system or any other suitable system as is known in the art.

The stroller 10 may further include a support leg (not shown), which may further help maintain the stroller upright in a folded (eg, closed) position. The support leg may extend between the lower portions of the front supports 20 and may also accommodate additional electronic elements such as daytime running lights (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 8, in certain embodiments, the lower portion of the front legs 20 may provide a mounting mechanism for a child support area including a child seat 50. The child support area can be attached to the front supports 20 in place between the sliding joint 40 and the frame joint 24, so that the seat 50 does not interfere with the movement of the sliding joint 40. A cover member or umbrella (not shown) can also be attached to the frames 12, 14 to protect the baby from sun exposure. In certain embodiments, a closure member (not shown) is attached to the upper portion of the front legs 20, at a point above the frame joint 24.

With reference to FIG. 8 and 9, the storage bag 70 can be attached to the rear supports 22 of the stroller 10. The storage bag can be used to carry accessories for a small passenger or for a user, such as food, clothing, diapers, toys, etc. With most folding baby strollers folding, storage bags usually fold in connection with folding the stroller frame. It was important to remove all items from the bag before folding the stroller so that nothing would be damaged. Alternatively, the bag could be removed before folding the stroller. When manually closing the stroller, the user would typically notice if the items were still in the bag and could remove the objects or bag from the stroller before continuing to fold the stroller. A unique problem with powered folding baby strollers, such as the baby stroller 10 of the present invention, is that the user can initiate the automatic folding of the baby stroller 10 without feeling that the items are in the bag. Since the folding process is automatic, the bag can be compressed, destroying the objects contained in it, before the user senses that the bag was loaded. Therefore, in a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the storage bag 70 is configured to remain in an unfolded (eg, expanded) position, while the stroller 10 transitions between open and closed positions. To keep the bag 70 in an expanded position, in one embodiment, the bag 70 further includes cables 72 fixedly connected to the frame 12, 14. For example, the cables 72 can be attached to the connections 24 of the frames. The cables 72 may be any type of web, fabric or material that is strong enough to support the weight of the bag 70 and the items contained therein. The cables 72 are connected to the bag 70 on a flexible connection. The cables 72 and the flexible connection are designed so that, as shown in FIG. 9, when the stroller 10 is in the open position, the cables 72 are oriented approximately at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the ground. When the stroller 10 is in the closed position, the fixed ends of the ropes 72 come together so that when the stroller 10 is in the closed position, the ropes 72 are essentially parallel. Thus, the bag 70 is not compressed when the stroller 10 moves between the open and closed positions.

With continued reference to FIG. 1-9, in a non-limiting embodiment, the front supports 20 of the stroller 10 are formed by a telescopic tube-in-tube structure to reduce weight and improve overall appearance. In certain other embodiments of the stroller 10, instead of the telescopic structure of the pipe in the pipe, the front support 20 may be in the form of a non-coaxial pipe with an external telescopic guide, as is known in the art.

In the pipe-in-pipe configuration, the front support 20 includes an inner pipe 52 and a hollow outer pipe 54. The outer pipe 54 extends from the end of the front support 20 to the frame joint 24. In an embodiment of the stroller 10 depicted in FIG. 1-9, the outer tube 54 is located in the lower portion of the front leg 20, and the inner tube 52 is located in the upper portion of the front leg 20. However, it should be understood that this configuration can be reversed, so that the outer tube 54 is located in the upper portion of the stroller pram 10. The outer tube 54 includes a longitudinal groove extending at least partially along the length of the outer tube 54. The sliding joint 40 of the scissor-based coupling device 18 is designed to fit in the groove 56.

Typically, a pipe 54 having a longitudinal groove 56 would have a lack of rigidity if additional reinforcing structures were not placed in the pipe to contribute to additional structural stability. Accordingly, if additional structural elements were not included in the outer tube 54 when the stroller 10 is pushed with substantial force, the front legs 20 may bend or warp, causing the stroller 10 to feel unstable or poorly. However, inserting additional structural supports into the outer tube 54 is difficult since the inner tube 52 is designed to be inserted further into the outer tube 54 when the stroller 10 enters the closed position. Thus, there is limited space in the outer pipe 54 to include additional structural supports.

With reference to FIG. 10 and 11, to overcome this lack of rigidity, the stroller 10 includes an inner tube assembly 51 consisting of an inner tube 52, which is partially inserted into the outer tube 54, a tube reinforcing member 80, and an extension member 82 extending between the end of the inner tube 52 and pipe reinforcing element 80. The inner tube 52 is inserted into the outer tube 54 by about 5-6 inches when the stroller is in the open position, and is configured to be inserted further into the outer tube 54 when the stroller enters the closed position. The tube reinforcing element 80 is a substantially hollow element located in the outer tube 54 below the sliding joint 40 when the front support 20 is in the open position. The reinforcing element 80 of the pipe includes a groove 84, which corresponds to the groove 56 of the outer pipe 54. The reinforcing element 80 of the pipe provides rigidity for the lower portion of the outer pipe 54. When the stroller is in the open position, the extension element 82 extends from the end of the inner pipe 52 to the sliding joint 40. When the stroller 10 moves from the open position to the closed position, the extension member 82 presses the sliding joint 40, pushing the joint 40 downward through the groove 56 of the outer tr loss 54 and the corresponding groove 84 of the reinforcing element 80 of the pipe. When the extension member 82 is advanced downward, the extension member 82 is also located in the groove of the pipe reinforcing member 80.

As shown in FIG. 11, the pipe reinforcing member 80 may further include a portion having a solid side wall 86 defining a fully enclosed portion 88. The groove 84 is separate from the closed portion 88. As described above, the integral tubular member has increased stiffness compared to an element having groove. By including the integral closed portion 88, the stiffness of the pipe reinforcing element is increased. Alternatively, the reinforcing element 80 of the pipe could include a transverse element extending in the longitudinal direction along the hollow interior of the pipe. The transverse element could contribute to stiffness relative to the reinforcing element 80 of the pipe. However, the inclusion of a transverse element running along the entire length of the pipe reinforcing element 80 would add extra weight.

In this configuration, it should be understood that the outer tube 54 is effectively divided into three segments when the stroller 10 is in the open position. The first segment is a section of pipe 54 between the front wheels 46 and the sliding joint 40. The reinforcing element 80 of the pipe is placed in this segment and contributes to additional rigidity with respect to this segment of the outer pipe 54. The second segment is a section of the outer pipe 54 from the sliding joint 40 to the inserted end inner tube 52. This segment of outer tube 54 lacks rigidity since the only additional construction in this segment of outer tube 54 is an extension tube element 82. However, it was found that the rigidity of the other segments of the outer tube 54 is sufficient to ensure the proper functioning of the stroller 10, even if this middle segment lacks rigidity. The third segment corresponds to 5-6 inches of overlap between the inner pipe 52 and the outer pipe 54. In this segment, the inner pipe 52 provides additional rigidity to the outer pipe 54.

Alternatively, the groove 56 of the outer pipe 54 could be configured to extend only along the portion of the outer pipe 54 between the sliding joint 40 and the lower end of the outer pipe 54 (for example, a portion of the outer pipe 54 that includes a pipe reinforcing member 80) . Thus, the rigidity of the second segment of the outer pipe 54 could be maintained since it would not include a groove 56. However, machining a groove extending only partially along the length of the outer pipe 54 is more expensive than machining a groove 56 along the entire the length of the outer pipe 54.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the inner pipe assembly 51, the slide joint 40 includes a key that functions as a blocking structure for the outer pipe 54. The key is inserted into the groove 56 of the outer pipe 54. The rigid member 38 of the scissor-based coupling device 18 is connected to the key to form a sliding joint 40. In this configuration, the sliding joint 40 is freely rotatable, relative to the key, along both the horizontal and vertical axis. When the stroller 10 is in the open position, the key provides additional rigidity to the outer pipe 54, helping to prevent the middle segment of the other pipe from being bent or twisted during use. When the stroller 10 enters the closed position, the key slides down along the groove 56 when the rigid members 38 rotate together around the central joint 42. Thus, the sliding joint 40 must rotate freely to accommodate both the downward movement of the key and the horizontal rotation of the rigid element 38.

With reference again to FIG. 1-9, the stroller 10 further includes one or more drive systems (for example, an electric motor, a hydraulic system, or a manually operated mechanical system) for moving the stroller 10 between the open and closed positions. In one non-limiting embodiment, the stroller includes two actuating subsystems, namely, a system for moving frames 12, 14 between open and closed positions and a system for snapping and folding a parallelogram linking device 16.

The drive system for the frame consists of a drive mechanism 58 connected to the front support 20. The drive mechanism 58 allows the right 12 and / or left frame 14 to transition between the open and closed positions by inserting or removing the inner pipe 52 from the outer pipe 54. With reference to FIG. . 13, the drive mechanism 58 includes a cable drive 112 connected to the first coil 114 and the second coil 116. It should be understood that the coils 114, 116 may be separate structures or be integral. The first cable 118 and the second cable 120 are connected to the coils 114, 116. The first cable 118 and the second cable 120 are located in the hollow section of the front support 20 and extend longitudinally along the length of the front support 20 from the frame connection 24 towards the upper end of the front support 20 The coils 114, 116 are configured such that when the first coil 114 is full, the second coil 116 is empty. Accordingly, when the stroller 10 moves from the open position to the closed position, one coil spins to release the cable, while the other coil wraps the cable inward. Thus, the drive mechanism 58 pulls the inner pipe 52 to make a transition to the closed position. When the stroller 10 enters the open position, the process is reversed, meaning that the coil that places the cable when closing the stroller releases the cable when opened and vice versa.

In one preferred non-limiting embodiment, the cable drive 112 is directly connected to the first coil 114 and the second coil 116 so that one revolution of the cable drive 112 causes one rotation of the coils 114, 116. In this configuration, it is necessary that the coils 114, 116 have small diameter so that only a small amount of the cable is pulled in or released with each subsequent rotation of the drive 112 of the cable. Accordingly, a small caliber cable should also be used for placement on a small coil. It has been determined that cables made from synthetic polymers, for example ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UVMPE), form an effective thin cable having good mechanical strength. The connection of the cable drive 112 directly to the spindle reduces the weight of the drive mechanism 58 by reducing the number of parts. Alternatively, the cable drive 112 may be coupled to the coils 114, 116 via a gearbox (not shown). The gearbox provides a slower rotation of the coils 114, 116, which makes it possible to use a coil and a larger cable diameter. However, the addition of a gearbox to the drive mechanism 58 increases the overall weight of the system.

With reference to FIG. 14, the present invention recognizes that for the drive mechanisms 58 having small coils 114, 116, the difference in the magnitude of the cable being wound or unwound with each spindle revolution is essentially different based on whether the coil is fully loaded or empty. Therefore, in the cable drive system of the present invention, in which, at the beginning of the transition from the closed position to the open position, one coil is empty and one is full, the value of the cable wound by one coil is essentially different from the value of the cable unwound on another reel. The difference between the size of the winded and unwound cable means that one cable will have excessive sagging when the drive mechanism is engaged. Excessive slack may cause the cable to become tangled during winding. To overcome this difference in the amount of cable to be released, the drive system further includes a first biasing element 122 and a second biasing element 124 connected in series with the first cable 118 and the second cable 120 and secured to the upper portion of the front support 20. The springs 122, 124 eliminate excessive sagging with cables 118, 120. In one non-limiting embodiment, the springs (?) [118, 120] are in an extended position when the stroller 10 is open and closed. However, during the transition, when the drive mechanism 58 is engaged, the biasing members 118, 120 are compressed longitudinally towards the upper portion of the front support 20, thereby eliminating any slack in the cables 118, 120.

In the above-described embodiment of the stroller 10 and the drive mechanism 58, the stroller 10 includes only one drive mechanism 58 connected to the front support 20. One drive mechanism can be used provided that the stroller 10 is sufficiently rigid, such so that the movement of one front support 20 causes a corresponding parallel movement of the opposite front support 20. Alternatively, the stroller 10 may include a drive mechanism 58 connected to each of the front legs 20. In this case, the drive mechanisms 58 may be configured to operate simultaneously to synchronize the movement (for example, opening or closing) of the right frame 12 and the left frame 14.

With reference to FIG. 15-16, the stroller 10 may further include a drive mechanism 60 coupled to the parallelogram linking device 16 to enable the horizontal elements 26, 28 of the parallelogram linking device 16 to transition from the unfolded position (when the stroller 10 is in the open position) to folded position (when the stroller is in the closed position). The drive mechanism 60 must also function as a latch or blocking element to maintain the parallelogram linking device 16 in the open position. In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the drive mechanism 60 is driven by an electric motor; however, other drive mechanisms, as is known in the art (mechanical, hydraulic, etc.), can also be used within the scope of the invention.

With specific reference to FIG. 16, in one non-limiting embodiment, the drive mechanism 60 includes a worm gear 212 connected to the rotatable gear 214. The rotation of the gear 214 drives a locking support member 216 that is connected between the gear 214 and the folding connection 34 of the lower horizontal member 28. When the parallelogram coupling device 16 is in an open (eg, unfolded) position, the locking support member 216 is a latch to prevent folding of mountains zonal elements 26, 28. More specifically, in the open position, the locking support element 216 is approximately singular (ie, aligned) with the axis 218 of the gear 214 to effectively counter any upward or downward force exerted on horizontal members 26, 28. However, the drive mechanism 60 is configured such that the gear 214 and the locking support member 216 stop in close proximity (e.g., approximately 10 degree proximity) to a singular (i.e. aligned) position. Stopping the rotation of the gear 214 close to the singular position ensures that the gear 214 does not accidentally rotate outside the singular position. Since the drive mechanism 60 cannot be driven in the opposite direction if the gear 214 accidentally moves beyond the singular position, the transition between the closed and open positions would require repetition to lock the horizontal element 26 in place. It has been found that keeping the blocking support member 216 in an approximately singular position (within 10 degrees apart) is sufficient to counteract folding forces and to effectively maintain and lock the parallelogram linking device 16 in the open position.

With continued reference to FIG. 16, in one non-limiting embodiment, the drive mechanism 60 further includes a manual control clutch for transitioning the drive mechanism 60 from the automatic folding configuration to the manual folding configuration. The hand clutch includes a lever 220 coupled to a rotatable cam 222. In an engaged (i.e., automatic) configuration, the lever 220 orientates the cam 222 so as to apply a downward force to the worm gear 212 to maintain contact between the worm gear 212 and gear 214. The spring 224, also connected to the cam 222, provides an additional downward force to maintain contact between the worm gear 212 and the gear 214. When the lever 220 is released (i.e., moved to the manual position), lachok 222 is rotated, thereby disengaging the worm gear 212 of the gear 214. When the worm gear 212 is disengaged from the gear wheel 214, the user can manually folding the stroller 10 by applying downward force to the horizontal members 26, 28.

A potential problem with the worm gear 212, which is designed to engage and disengage from the gear 214, is to align the turns 226 of the worm gear 212 with the teeth 228 of the gear 214. If the turns 226 and the teeth 228 are not aligned when the contact between the gear wheel 214 and worm gear 212 is installed, it is possible that the turns 226 will be pressed against the upper portion of the gear teeth 228 than the gear 214, causing damage to the teeth 228 and / or turns 226. In a preferred manner In an embodiment, the drive mechanism 60 prevents damage to the teeth 228 and gears 214 by initially applying light preload and slowly rotating the worm gear 212 until the gear teeth 228 and the turns 226 of the worm gear 212 are engaged and aligned. Once the gear 214 and the turns 226 are correctly aligned, additional compressive force between the worm gear 212 and the gear 214 is applied, and the rotation speed of the worm gear 212 increases. However, the gears 214 and the worm gear 212 are not subjected to this additional force until it is established that the thread 226 and the gear 214 are aligned. In certain embodiments, the drive mechanism 60 further comprises a sensor (not shown) for determining whether the worm gear 212 and the gear teeth 228 are correctly aligned. If the sensor determines that alignment is correct, there is no need to apply a light preload force to align gear 214. If the sensor determines that gear 214 is not aligned, a light preload is applied. In an alternative embodiment, the drive mechanism 60 does not include an alignment sensor. In this case, the preload pressure will be applied each time so that the gear 214 is brought into contact with the worm gear 212, regardless of whether they are in alignment or not.

The drive mechanism 60 may further include a visual indicator (not shown), such as a display, switch, or illuminated button, to inform the user of the position of the drive system. For example, a visual indicator can indicate three possible stages: a car in which the gear wheel 214 and the worm gear 212 are engaged and locked together so that full force can be applied to the open or closed stroller 10; manual, in which the gear 214 and the worm gear 212 are not engaged, allowing users to manually open or close the stroller 10; or auto, but disengaged, in which gear 214 is not properly aligned and light pressure will be applied to align gear 214. Alternatively, the position of the lever 220 may be sufficient to indicate to the user whether the clutch is in an automatic or manual position .

The present invention also recognizes the likelihood that the user may try to apply force to the stroller 10 to close when the drive mechanism is in the automatic position and the gear 214 is engaged with the worm gear 212. Such force movement would potentially disassemble the gear 214, damaging drive mechanism 60. In order to overcome such a force movement, in one preferred embodiment, the drive mechanism 60 is configured to automatically transition Drive from coupled to uncoupled position. Specifically, when the user applies a substantial downward force to the horizontal members 26, 28, the cam 222 will rotate, thereby disengaging the worm gear 212 from the gear 214.

With reference to FIG. 13 and 15, the drive mechanisms 58, 60 further include a timing connection between the frame drive mechanism 58 and the parallelogram drive mechanism 60 to ensure that the frame drive mechanism 58 will not engage when the parallelogram drive mechanism 60 is in manual mode (i.e. uncoupled position. In one non-limiting embodiment, the connection 230 includes a rotatable cam 232 coupled to a parallelogram drive mechanism 60, which is mechanically connected to a corresponding rotatable cam 126 of the frame drive mechanism 58 via a cable 230. When the parallelogram drive mechanism 60 moves from its engaged position to the disengaged (i.e. manual) position, the cam 232 rotates, causing the corresponding cam 126 of the frame drive mechanism 58, which is connected via the cable 230, to rotate . The rotation of the cam 126 of the frame drive 58 causes the cable drive 112 to detach from the coils 114, 116 to prevent rotation. When the parallelogram drive mechanism 60 is in the automatic position, the cam 126 of the frame drive 58 is rotated to re-initiate the connection between the coils 114, 116 and the cable drive 112 to allow folding of the front support 20.

In addition to the above drive mechanisms 58, 60, the stroller 10 may include numerous other electrical systems within the scope of the present invention. For example, the stroller 10 may include headlights, daytime running lights, and a user interface system. Several user interface options are provided within the scope of the present invention, ranging from a simple interface to a complex interface offering information about the stroller 10 and the environment. With reference to FIG. 17-18, in one embodiment, the user interface is presented on an LCD 62 located at the end of the handles 44 of the stroller 10. An illustrative schematic drawing of the visual interface 62 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 18. The visual interface 62 displays information from a variety of sensors on the stroller 10, including speed, presence of a child in the stroller, open or closed, as well as temperature, total distance traveled and time, as well as other relevant information important to the user.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the electronic systems of the stroller 10 are powered by an onboard battery, which is charged when the stroller is pushed. In certain embodiments, this charging is carried out by means of generators located in the wheels 46, 48 of the stroller, combined with the electrical circuitry used to direct the energy generated by the stroller 10 back to the battery. An exemplary generator for use with a power folding stroller is disclosed in US Pat. 8,193,650 dated June 5, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. If required, the stroller can also be charged via an AC adapter, such as a wall adapter.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the above-described electronics (e.g., drive mechanisms, sensors, headlights, displays, and odometers) are controlled by one or more microcontrollers. Although all control can be manipulated by a single microcontroller, it is sometimes preferable to use multiple microcontrollers for economic benefit. For example, one or more microcontrollers are used to control and monitor various electronic components associated with drive folding and unfolding. In one preferred embodiment, the drive mechanisms are controlled through several ports of the microcontroller, which in turn control the drive electronics of the motor. In one embodiment, the drive electronics of the motor consists of an H-shaped bridge circuit, enabling the motors to operate in a bi-directional manner and at different speeds through pulse-width modulation (PWM). The microcontroller can use several additional ports to monitor various sensors that provide information about the position of the frame, the position of the latch and whether 10 children are in the stroller. The remaining ports of the microcontroller are for the user interface of the stroller 10, which provides a means for the user to interact with the stroller 10, and where the stroller 10 transmits information to the user.

In certain configurations, various electronic components of the stroller 10 are controlled by software systems responsible for using the electrical system to manipulate the mechanical system in a safe and efficient manner. The sensors contained in the electrical system are wired back from the microcontroller, which contains the software used to process the data from the sensors and determine the appropriate action. There are three main sections for software.

The first section manipulates the user interface, where information is transmitted to the user regarding the state of the mechanical and electrical systems of the stroller, and where the user can interact with the stroller 10, for example, to request folding or unfolding the stroller 10. The second section manipulates the monitoring of the position or status of the stroller 10. The software will interpret the various signals received about t of sensors, and determine whether the stroller 10 is in good condition (for example, in a mechanical and constructive sense), whether the stroller 10 is occupied, whether the stroller 10 is broken, etc. The third section manipulates the movement of the stroller 10 through the folding and unfolding process. During the folding and unfolding process, the software must monitor various security protocols to protect the passenger, user and mechanics.

In one embodiment, the folding and unfolding control software comprises an actuation sequence controlled by the actuation switch 64. The actuation sequence may include receiving information from one or more object sensors having the ability to detect the presence of objects in the interior of the stroller 10 and interrupt and / or prevent the stroller 10 from moving into its compressed state when the object sensor determines the presence object in the interior of the stroller 10. The sensor or sensors of the object can be a sensor of any known type, for example a mechanical date a weight sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a light beam sensor or any other device capable of detecting the presence of an object in the interior of the stroller 10. The sensor or sensors may be electronic and may send a signal that is electrically exposed to prevent or interrupt the feed energy to the engine and / or sensors may be mechanical and cause a physical lock or brake to prevent further compression or full compression movement stroller 10. Sensors can also be used to detect the presence of modular accessories connected to the stroller 10, so that the stroller 10 is not compressed when the attached additional component is detected, thereby preventing potential damage to the additional devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuation switch 64 is an emergency switch located on the handles 44 of the stroller 10. The emergency switch must be activated (i.e., pressed down) throughout the entire opening or closing movement. Releasing the switch suspends the movement of folding or unfolding the stroller 10. Pressing the switch a second time continues to move. The switch may further include a twist member 66 to prepare the actuation sequence prior to initiating an opening or closing action.

With reference to FIG. 19, a non-limiting embodiment of an actuation sequence for a stroller 10 is depicted. As indicated in the illustrative actuation sequence, in most cases, the stroller 10's control unit is in standby mode. The activation of the torsion element 66 or dial prepares the control unit, essentially bringing it out of standby. The actuation switch 64 may include an indicator, such as a sound or a light, which indicates that the control unit is in a standby mode. After preparation, the user initiates actuation (opening or closing the stroller 10) by pressing the actuation switch. In certain embodiments, the node will only remain in prepared mode for a limited period of time, after which the node will determine “time out”. At this point, the node may include means for informing the user that the prepared mode has exceeded the time limit, and the node returns to standby mode. When the actuation switch 64 is activated (i.e., pressed), the assembly is able to receive and evaluate safety data from a plurality of safety sensors located on the stroller 10. Relevant safety data include whether the child is present, whether the clutch is in the manual position , and the battery level of the power source. The stroller 10 can also monitor external conditions, for example, whether the stroller is connected to an external power source, in which case folding or unfolding can be prevented. In certain embodiments, the stroller may alert the user of unsafe conditions, for example, by describing the status on the display 62. If the sensors indicate that the stroller 10 is safe to fold or unfold, the folding movement starts or resumes. Folding continues until folding is completed or until the actuating switch 64 is released to pause the folding process. When folding is paused, the node remains in prepared mode until either the button is pressed to resume folding or until the node exceeds the time limit and returns to standby mode.

The software further includes a frame folding sequence combined with sensors to determine the position of the frame. The position sensors are used in select locations on the frame to transmit a signal indicating the position of one or more components or elements of the stroller 10. The position sensors can be used for several purposes, for example, transmitting a signal to a display to provide visual and / or audio indication to the user regarding the current position or opening or compressing the stroller 10, and / or to provide an interruption signal (or lack of signal) if the position sensor or sensors are not activated, as would be the case during the correct opening and / or compression of the stroller 10. Any one or more of several known types of sensors can be used, for example, encoders for angle of rotation at any one or more points of rotation of the components of the frame, and / or restrictive or contact switches, which are activated when the selective elements of the stroller 10 are moved to their correct positions, or incorrect positions, during opening and / or compression of the stroller pram 10. As an example, position sensors may be mounted on the stroller 10 in positions that provide an indication that the stroller 10 has moved to its fully open state, its fully compressed state, or any state between them; and / or position sensors can be mounted in places to determine the engagement or lack of engagement of the latches. The position sensors can work together with the electronic timer controls in such a way that a signal is sent to stop the power supply to the engine if the position sensor is not activated within a predetermined period of time.

With reference to FIG. 20, in one preferred and non-limiting embodiment, the folding process of the frame begins by obtaining information about whether the power supply is turned on, the manual clutch is actuated, and the wall charger is connected. The controller assembly should turn on during folding. However, folding is prevented when the clutch is in the manual position and when the stroller is connected to the wall charger. When folding is activated by pressing the actuation button, the assembly receives information from a plurality of frame sensors, including the state of the parallelogram coupling device 16 (latched or not latched), position of the sliding joint 40 (bottom or top), or whether the telescopic tube is extended or inserted. Information from the frame sensors is used to determine if the stroller 10 is in the open or closed position. Based on the information, the opening of the stroller 10 or the closing of the stroller 10 is functionally activated. During activation, the unit continues to monitor the frame sensors to determine when the opening or closing is completed. If folding or unfolding is completed, the user is notified that the action was successful. Otherwise, the user is warned that a folding error has occurred. It should be noted that, as described with respect to the actuation sequence, the user can suspend folding by releasing the emergency switch. Folding is resumed by pressing a switch to continue activating folding or unfolding. If the node remains suspended for a period of time, the folding exceeds the time limit and the node returns to the standby mode or the folding stop position until the user activates the system again by preparing the actuation switch.

Although the collapsible stroller 10 has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to these elements can be made, taking into account the general ideas for describing the invention. Accordingly, the disclosed specific arrangements are intended to be illustrative only and not limiting the scope of the invention, which is to be set to the full extent by the appended claims and any and all its equivalents. Moreover, although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration on the basis of what is currently considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it should be understood that such detail is intended solely for this purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, it is intended to encompass modifications and equivalent constructions that fall within the idea and scope of the appended claims. For example, it should be understood that the present invention contemplates that, as far as possible, one or more features of any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.

Claims (22)

1. A stroller containing:
the right frame and the left frame, each of which contains a front support, rotatably connected to the rear support on the frame connection, while the front support of each frame is a telescopic pipe assembly containing:
an external pipe extending from the end of the front support to the connection of the support frame,
an inner pipe assembly partially inserted into the outer pipe and protruding from the outer pipe, and
a groove extending in the longitudinal direction along at least a portion of the outer pipe;
a connecting device comprising at least two essentially rigid elements connected between the right frame and the left frame, the rigid elements being connected to the front supports on the right sliding connection and the left sliding connection, and the connections are placed in the groove of the outer pipe; and,
a frame drive connected to a right or left frame,
moreover, the front support and the rear support of the right frame and the left frame are arranged to move from an open position to a closed position by means of a drive mechanism, and
the transition of the stroller from the open position to the closed position causes the sliding joints to move down along the grooves of the outer pipe. 2. Stroller according to claim 1, in which the node of the inner pipe contains:
an inner pipe that is partially inserted into the outer pipe and protrudes from the outer pipe at the frame joint;
a pipe reinforcing element inserted in the outer pipe and placed below the sliding joint when the front support is in the open position, wherein the pipe reinforcing element has a groove that corresponds to a groove of the external pipe; and,
an extension element extending between the end of the inner pipe that is inserted into the outer pipe and the sliding joint. 3. The stroller according to claim 2, in which the extension element is configured to push the sliding joint in the longitudinal direction along the groove of the pipe reinforcing element and the groove of the outer pipe when the stroller moves from the open position to the closed position, the extension element being placed in groove of the reinforcing element of the pipe. 4. The stroller according to claim 2, in which the reinforcing element of the pipe further comprises a solid side wall, completely covering the hollow section extending in the longitudinal direction through the reinforcing element of the pipe. 5. The stroller according to claim 1, in which the drive mechanism of the frame comprises a cable drive, at least one coil rotated by a cable drive, and a cable located in the coil, the cable being connected to the inner pipe. 6. Stroller according to claim 5, in which the cable drive is in a direct rotational connection with the coil. 7. Stroller according to claim 5, in which the cable is made of a synthetic polymer, preferably ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. 8. Walking stroller according to claim 5, additionally containing a biasing element, connected in series with the cable to eliminate the sagging of the cable, when interacting with the drive mechanism. 9. The stroller according to claim 1, in which the connecting device is a scissor-based connecting device made in such a way that the rigid elements are connected between the front support of one frame and the rear support of another frame, and the hard elements working according to the principle of scissors binder the devices are connected on a rotatable central connection in such a way that when the stroller moves from the open position to the closed position, the rigid elements rotate around the central connections, bringing the ends of the rigid elements to each other. 10. Walking stroller according to claim 1, in which the drive mechanism is driven by a battery, electric generator, spring, compressed air, or any combination thereof. 11. The stroller according to claim 1, further comprising an actuation button for engaging the drive mechanism, wherein the actuation button is an emergency switch. 12. The stroller according to claim 1, further comprising a screen for providing information to the user, such as air temperature, battery charge, time, speed or distance traveled. 13. The stroller according to claim 1, further comprising a parallelogram linking device connected between the right frame and the left frame, wherein the parallelogram linking device comprises: a folding upper horizontal element; a folding lower horizontal element approximately parallel to the upper horizontal element; and a latch, which, when coupled, supports the elements in the unfolded position, and when unlocked, provides the ability to fold the elements. 14. The stroller according to claim 13, further comprising a parallelogram drive mechanism coupled to the parallelogram linking device for transferring horizontal elements of the parallelogram linking device from the unfolded position to the folded position. 15. The stroller according to claim 14, wherein the parallelogram drive mechanism and the frame drive mechanism are connected for coordinated action. 16. The stroller according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit, comprising a storage bag, at least one cable fixed to the right frame and at least one cable fixed to the left frame, and flexible a connection for connecting the cables to the bag, and the storage unit is designed so that the bag remains in the expanded position when the frame moves from the open position to the closed position. 17. A stroller containing:
a right frame and a left frame, each frame comprising a front support rotatably connected to a rear support at a frame connection;
a parallelogram coupling device connected between the right frame and the left frame, comprising a folding upper horizontal element, a folding lower horizontal element approximately parallel to the upper horizontal element, and a latch which, when engaged, supports the elements in the unfolded position, and when disengaged, provides the ability to move items to a folded position; and
a drive mechanism, which is an electric motor and connected to a frame or parallelogram connecting device,
moreover, the front support and the rear support of the right frame and the left frame are movable from an open position to a closed position, and
the horizontal elements of the parallelogram connecting device move from the unfolded position to the folded position simultaneously with the transition of the frame from the open position to the closed position, and
while moving the frames or the transition of the parallelogram linking device is carried out by means of a drive mechanism. 18. The stroller according to claim 17, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a drive, a gear engaged with and driven by the drive, and a blocking member coupled to the gear. 19. A baby stroller according to claim 18, wherein the blocking element engages with an upper or lower horizontal element of the parallelogram linking device to transition the parallelogram linking device from the unfolded position to the folded position. 20. The stroller according to claim 18, wherein the drive mechanism includes a hand clutch configured to selectively engage and disengage the drive from the gear. 21. The stroller according to claim 20, wherein when the drive interacts with the gear, the drive applies light preload pressure to align the drive and the gear before applying the full drive force. 22. A stroller containing:
a frame; and
a drive mechanism connected to the frame and configured to translate the frame between the open position and the closed position, the drive mechanism comprising
cable drive
at least one coil rotated by a cable drive,
at least one cable, in which the first end is placed on at least one coil, and the second end is connected to the frame, and
at least one biasing element connected in series with at least one cable to eliminate sagging.

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